Tragedy after tragedy, people find themselves mourning the lives lost. And again and again, they look back to see how they could have prevented it. People continue to constantly discuss and debate what actions should be taken, and as they do so, more and more people are losing their lives at the hands of gun violence. It's clear that not much has been done to keep these weapons out of the wrong hands: the shootings at Columbine High School and Virginia Tech proved this. What would happen if another devastating shooting occurred? How would people react? Or will they simply fight some more, while the wrong people can still easily get a hold of the weapons? The only way they can gain control of anything is to control the source of the problem, where people can freely purchase weapons without restrictions. In order to reduce gun crime, unlicensed gun sellers should be required to perform background checks on their customers. Currently, the United States has a national instant background check system; however, it contains many flaws. This system is intended to act as a filter to prevent the wrong people from owning guns. In 2007, bipartisan legislation was passed to strengthen this system. It is based on data provided by states, but the data is often incomplete and inadequate (Merino 104). Unlicensed gun sellers have also created a dangerous loophole. The law makes an exception for gun dealers who are not federally licensed gun dealers. These sellers sell guns informally through venues such as gun shows and are not required to perform background checks. This is a dangerous loophole where people who shouldn't have guns can get them (“Gun”). Senator Frank R. Lautenberg once said, commenting on the gun... middle of paper... lives can be saved. A change can be made right now. “Yet, as shots continue to ring out across the country, the silence in this House is deafening” (Alters 128). Works CitedAlters, Sandra M., ed. Gun Control: Restrict Rights or Protect People? Wylie: Cengage Learning, 2011. Reprint. Information Plus.Carter, Gregg Lee, ed. “Federal Gun Laws.” Gun Control in the United States: A Reference Manual. Santa Barbara: ABC-CLIO, 2006. Print.Egendorf, Laura K., ed. Weapons and violence. New York: Thomson Gale, 2005. Reprint. Current controversies. “Gun Background Checks.” Issues and disputes on file. File News Services Facts. 11 May 2007. Web. 21 December 2013. .Merino, Noel, ed. Gun control. New York: Greenhaven Press, 2013. Reprint. Presenting problems with opposing points of view.